There’s some kind of arms race in England, where Burial and Actress have to split up the crackles and dust and blurring so that electronic music doesn’t become the meme of the sad guy looking out the bus window once and for all. (Once a year, they’re allowed to use Thom Yorke but no more than that, for national security.) Splazsh was the last time Darren Cunningham was more oontz than doom, more bust than dust. The sparkly parts of this album really elevate it, and as much as I love the albums that came after it, with all their streaks and cracks, the sheen of Splazsh is something else. A subtle kind of joy here.

– Sasha Frere-Jones